BRIGHT REVUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21993, 27 December 1934, Page 12

BRIGHT REVUE

MR. NEIL'S COMPANY MANY NOVEL ATTRACTIONS NEW TYPES OF COMEDY Variety is the keynote of the entertainment in Mr. Frank Neil's new revue, which opened its Auckland .season before a largo audience at His Majesty's Theatre last night. It is presented under the title of "New .Faces." The revue introduces a new comedian in Mr. Joey Porter. A diminutive young man with a roving eye, he has a style of comedy decidedly his own. Mr. Porter blends subtlety, audacity and genuine high spirits in approximately equal measures. He is one of the most comic "drunks" seen on the Auckland stage for years} he a|>es a gorilla and masticates a moustache.

For genuinely crazy dancing, in which comedy is used to mask skill of a high order, it would be hard to improve the work of the American trio, Nice, Florio and Lubow. Without any eccentricity in make-up, they contrive to make dancing really funny, and tho efforts of a gentleman who occasionally throws himself head first over the footlights into the stalls must inevitably be greeted by something mid-way between a laugh and a scream. Theirs is a "specialty act" in the widest sense of the term.

A new brand of comedy also conies from Mr. Alec Halls. "With a "wooden" face and remaining absolutely speechless, he does the most absurd things with a trombone, a few hats, a new kind of dressing table and a set of drums. He has a small boy to assist him, and they are great entertainment. Others who gain tributes in laughter are Miss Doreon Ray and Mr. Nat Hope, who sing and joke together in high spirits. Other special acts which were warmly applauded last night were those by Les Diamondos, who, in scenes notable for effective lighting, provide groups of living statuary. The Throe Ambassadors, novelty instrumentalists, also proved popular. One of their number whistled tunes in a manner calculated to make flautists really envious. The vocalists of the company are Miss Grace Hartington, a young soprano, Mr. Russell Callow, and Mr. Ted Simpson. Miss Hartington and Mr. Simpson appear in two well-staged song scenas. "Tho Rotogravure Section," which closes the first half, is one of the finest offerings in the programme.

Dancing of a mox - o orthodox style than that followed by Nice, Florio and Lubow is provided by Macdonald and Graham, who appear in one tap dancing interlude that is really brilliant. Miss Cora Whittwell, a most charming soubrette, appears with a well-drilled ballet in bright .numbers, and several brief comedy sketches complete the entertainment. The dressing and mounting are all that could h e desired and the orchestra is conducted by Mr. Harry Lazarus. The programme will be ropeated at matinee and evening performances, and other revues will be staged during tho Bcason.